Valve



June 16, 1953 c; c. BROWN VALVE ZSheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1949 C/cero C. Brown f/Vl//V7'0R 5 mwL/ A r TOR/V5 n Patented June 16, 1,953

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE VALVE Cicero CI-Brown, Houston, Tex. Appucationounazs, 1949, Serial No. 101,377

This .invention relates to new and useful improvements in valves and relates particularly to fill-up valves employedifor controlling the filling of wellpipe as the. same islowered within a well bore.

A well pipe, such as well casing, whichisto be lowered into a well bore vis ordinarily-equipped with. a back check or cementing vvalve at its lower portion and said valve is upwardly closing-so as toprevent admission of fluid from the well bore into the pipe during thelowering operation. and thereby protect against a blowout through the pipe. However, after the .pipe .is landed inits final position within the bore, cementis pumped downwardly through the pipe .and outwardly past theback check or cementing valve into the formation around-the lower portion of the pipe to bond the pipe to the sub-surface formation.

As iswell known,.it.is notgenerally desirable-to run .the entire pipestringdr-y andlit is therefore the usual practice vtovfill the bore oflthepipe with fluidduring the lowering operation. .The pipe is ordinarilyfilled by pumping viiuidirom the mud pit "into said pipe, withthe introduction offluid being carried out periodically, as for example, upon therunning .of each .two or three sections or stands or pipe. The filling operation requires holding the pipe stationary and considerable. time is consumed in connecting and disconnecting the pump outlet to the pipe andin actually-carrying out the filling operation. Filling of the pipe in this. mannerv results in. lost rig time andadditional labor on the partoi the crew and has the .addi,-. tional disadvantage .of possibly sticking the pipe during the time that the pipe is held stationary; also since the pipe is filled from the mud pit at thesurface, the particularfiuid pumped into the Another'obj ect of the invention is to provide an improved valve, oi. the character described, wherein a flexible valve element which is actuated by the pressure differential thereacross is utilized to open and close the fluid inlet to automatically control the filling of the well pipe as said pipe is lowered'within'the well bore.

Still another ob-ject'is to provide an improved fill-up valve for a wellpipe which is extremely simple'in construction and which employs only a single flexible valve element'having its opposite sides exposed to the fluid pressure in the well bore and the fluidpressure in'the wellpipe, respectively, whereby the valve element is automatically actuated by the difierential'in such pressures to control filling of said pipe;

A further object is toprovide a single flexible valve element 'for a fill-up valve, of the character described, which is sleeve like in form and is adapted to be fl'exed'into open and closed positions to open' and close the fluid inlet to the Well pipe.

Still another object'is toprovide a fill-up valve wherein a single annular flexible valve element functions to control the -filling action and also operates as a cementing valve, with the construction being such that the volume of flow of fluid past the valve difiersin accordance with the direction of flow, whereby on1y a more or less limited volume. may pass the valve during filling but a relatively large volume may pass said valve during cementing.

'Other'and further objects of the'invention will appear from the description of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the instant specification, which are to'be read in conjunction therewith and wherein like pipe may not be identicalto the fluid. in the bore 1 hole whereby these dissimilar fluidswill subsequently .admix which is undesirable.

It is, therefore, one objector this invention to provide an improved fill-up valve for well .pipe' which will effect filling .oi the pipe by fluid'from within the well bore and which is so constructed that the cementingoperation may becarried out in the usual manner after the well pipe rhasrbeenlanded in .its final position in the well .bore..

An important object .of the invention is to provide an improved valve adapted-to be mount ed in thelower portion of .a well pipe-and -func-;

tioning to automatically control filling of the" with the valve elementin a -fully closed position,

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view with the valve element being'open to allow filling :of the pipe,

Figure .7 is a'view similar to 'Figure fi illustrating the valve element in an open position in a downward direction to allow flow from the interior of the pipe, and

Figure 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 5.

In the drawings, the numeral I designates a valve device or unit which is adapted to be connected in the lower portion of a well pipe or casing string A and which is arranged to control the entry of fluid from the bore of the well as said pipe or casing is lowered through the fluid within said bore. The valve device includes an outer tubular housing or body I which is formed with an axial bore I la and an internally threaded box l2 at the upper end of said bore whereby the device may be readily attached to the lowermost section of the well pipe A. The lower end of the body or housing II has a perforated plug |3 threaded therein and the wall of ,said plug is formed with a plurality of openings l4 therein which establish communication between the interior of the body and the well bore.

A valve seat ring l6 having an annular valve seat surface I! is mounted within the bore Ila of the valve body H and this ring is preferably threaded into the bore nearer its upper portion and immediately below the threaded box |2. An upwardly closing cementing valve l8 having a bevelled or inclined seating surface I9 is adapted to engage the valve seat I! to prevent upward flow past said seat into the well pipe. A suitable sealing ring 20 may be mounted in an annular groove in the bevelled surface I!) of the valve to assure a fluid tight seal when said valve is engaged with the seat.

The cementing valve l8 includes a disc-like head portion 2| having an integral upwardly extending cylindrical shank or stem 22 which is disposed axially of the valve head. An axial bore 23 extends through the valve head 2| and valve stem 22 and the lower flared end of the bore communicates with the interior of the valve housing or body below the valve head; the upper end of the bore is closed by an end wall 24 which is preferably made integral with the stem. Radial ports or openings 25 are formed in the upper portion of the wall of the valve stem 22 and when the valve I8 is in its upper or seatedposition as shown in Figure 1, an upward flow from the interior of the body below the valve may occur only through the axial bore 23 and ports 25 since the valve seating surface I9 is engaged with the valve seat to close upward fiow past the valve head.

With the valve I8 in a seated position flow through the ports 25 is controlled by a resilient valve sleeve 26 which is constructed of rubber, rubber compound or other elastic material and which surrounds the tubular valve stem 22. The lower portion of the valve sleeve 26 is securely fastened to the base portion of the stem by means of a wire 21 which is wrapped therearound or by some other suitable clamping means, while the upper portion of said sleeve is unattached and free from the stem. The normal or undistorted size and shape is such that the. bore 26a of the sleeve has a snug engagement with the exteriorsurface of the stem 22 and thus, the normal or inherent elasticity of said valve sleeve 26 retains said sleeve in firm engagement with the outer surface of said stem 22 in which position said sleeve closes the ports 25. The external surface of the sleeve is, of course, exposed to the pressure within the well pipe A and is added to the normal elasticity of the sleeve to maintain the same in port-closing position.

The bore 26a of the valve sleeve is exposed through the ports 25 to the pressure within the well bore, which pressure enters the lower portion of the tubular valve body through the openings I4 and flows into the axial bore 23 which extends through the valve head 2| and stem 22. When this pressure exceeds the pressure which is holding the valve sleeve in a position covering the ports 25, the upper end of the elastic valve sleeve is distorted outwardly to the position shown in Figure 2 whereby the upper end of the well pipe.

portion of the valve sleeve is urged or moved outwardly to uncover the ports 25 and allow a flow of fluid from the axial bore 23 into the lower As noted the fluid in the bore 23 has entered said bore through the opens M in the plug I3 and therefore, opening of the ports 25 establishes a communication between the well bore and the interior of the well pipe A whereby fluid from the well bore may enter said pipe. Whenever pressures across the elastic valve sleeve again equalize the valve sleeve will return to its original undistorted position as shown in Figure l to again close the ports or openings 25. It will thus be evident that the valve sleeve 26 which functions as the fill-up valve of the unit, as will be explained, is controlled by the differential in pressures acting on opposite sides thereof.

The cementing or upwardly closing check valve I8 is guided in its movement by radially disposed and downwardly extending guide wings or members 2! which are spaced equidistant around the valve head 2| and which have their outer edges engaging the bore ||a of the tubular valve body or housing The valve I8 is normally held in its upward or closed position by means of a coil spring 28 which has its upper end engaging the under side of the valve head 2| and has its lower end resting upon a transverse supporting plate or partition plug l3. The supporting plate or partition 29 has an axial opening 30 therein and said opening is adapted to be closed by an upwardly closing check valve 3| having its stem 32 slidable within a, guide spider 33 secured to said plate. A coil spring 34 normally holds the check valve 3| in an open position and the strength of the spring is such that so be obtained because the valve'3l is disposed between the fluid inlet openings l4 in the plug and the fill-up valve formed by the sleeve valve 2B. The check valve 3| and the cementing valve |8 are both upwardly closing and it is obvious that a cementing operation may be carried on through the well pipe by merely pumping the cement downwardly therethrough; the pump pressure functioning to unseator open both valves whereby the cement may-be discharged outwardly into the well bore through the openings M in v the plug l3.

In the operation of the device or unit ID, said device is connected to the 'lower end orin the v lower portion of the well pipe string A and is lowered downwardly through the fluid within the well bore. When first introduced in the well bore,

the parts will be -in-the position shown I in Figure the valve will hold said valve in tight engagement with the external surface of the tubular stem 22 to cover or close the ports'25.

As the well pipe is lowered through the fluid within the bore the kineticpressure which is built updue tothe movement of the pipe'string into the'well fluid will result in an impact pressure against the interiorof the sleeve valve 26, such pressure acting through the ports 25 against the bore 26a of said sleeve valve. Since the upper portion of the sleeve valve'is unattached'to the stem '22, said upper portion'of the sleeve valve will be distorted or expanded outwardly to the position shown in Figure'Z, whereby-the ports 25 are opened-and fluid is admitted from the well bore into the interior of the well pipe A. It is noted that the pressure of the spring 34 on the check valve-3I is sufflcient to maintain this check valve open against the normal kinetic pressure which is developed during the lowering operation, whereby said check valve remains open to allow the pressures toact against the interior of the sleeve valve 26 under normal conditions.

An inflow of fluid into the well pipe A continues until a suiflcient volume of fluid has been admitted to the pipe to build up the hydrostatic head pressure within the pipe, and when this hydrostatic head pressure, plus the normal inherent resiliency of the sleeve valve 26 which is tending to return said valve'to its normal position, is sufiicient to overcome the pressure acting against the interior of said sleeve valve, the sleeve valve is returned to its normal undistorted position as shown in Figure 1-. In such position the sleeve valve 26 overlies and closes the ports 25 and this shuts off a further inflow of fluid to the well pipe. The sleeve valve 26 remains closed until continued lowering through the fluid column again increases the pressure acting interiorly thereof, and when this occurs the valve 26 is again opened to admit additional fluid. The admission of such additional fluid continues until the head pressure of the admitted fluid plus the normal inherent elasticity of the valve sleeve 26 is again suflicient to overcome the pressure acting interiorly on the bore 26a of the valve, Whereby the'ports 25 are again closed.

The alternate opening and closing of the valve which is controlled solely by the differential in pressures acting thereacross, continues as the pipe is lowered within the well bore and by the time the pipe is landed in its final position the desired volume of fluid has been admitted to flll the pipe in a desired manner. It is obvious that if excessive pressures are developed within the .well bore during the time of loweringof the pipe such excessive pressure will be suflicient to overcome the tension of the spring 34 which normally holds the check valve 3| in its open position and the check valve will thus be closed to shut ofi flow upwardly through the opening 30 in thepartition 29 and will thereby close off the admission of any fluid from the Well bore into the well pipe. Thus the check valve 3I'may, under certain excessive pressure conditions effect a positive shutposition, -.ce ment may .be pumpedldownwardly' 6,. through ='th-e-wel1 pipe in the usual manner and acting against-the head portion 21 of the cementing valve I 8 will function to move said valve downwardly against the pressure of its spring 28, whereby the valvesurface I9 is moved away from the valve seat I' 'I. Ihe cement may-thus pass downwardly around thevalve head 2I and then through the opening 30 in the partition past the check valve 3| 'tobe finally discharged outwardly through the openings I4'in'the plug I3. Therefore, after-the well pipe has'been'flnally landed in position a cementing operation may be carried out in the usual manner.

From the foregoing, it --will be seen that the device. provides a means whereby the well pipe or casing may be-automatically filled by fluid from within the well bore as said pipeis lowered through said bore. Aipositive protection against blowout in case of excessive pressures within the bore is provided by means of-the check valve 3|. The entire structure is such that after the pipe is lowered into positionthe usual cementing operation maybe carried out. 1

In Figures 5 to 8 a modified form of the invention is'shown wherein a tubular valve body Illa similar to the body II of the first form is provided with an internally threaded box In at its upper end for connection with the wellpipe, while its lower endis closed by. a plug l3a having openings Ma therein. The openings I la establish communication between the interior of the valve body Illa and the well bore and the fluid entering said body through the openings flows upwardly past an upwardly closing check valve 3Ia which is mounted ina spider 33asecured to the underside of a transverse partition or plate 29a. The check valve-is adapted to close flow through an axial opening 30a within the partition. As in the case in the first form the check valve 3Ia is normally held vopen by a spring 34a so that undernormal conditions a free entry of fluid from-the well-bore and upwardly through the opening 30a may occur; however, in the event that the well bore pressures become excessive the tension of the spring 34a is overcome and the check valve 3Ia moves. upwardly to close the opening 39a and thereby shut off any further admission of fluid from the well bore into the body Illa and thence into the well pipe A connected with said body.

In this form of the invention the separate cementing valve I8 is completely eliminated and a single distortable valve element or disc 40 provided. As will be explained the valve element or disc 40 functions not only to control the fillingof the well pipe Abut also functions as a cementing valve, whereby when desired a cementing operation may be carried out downwardly through the Well pipe Aand through the tubular valve body Illa. As is clearly shown in Figure 5, the valve element or'disc 40 has a diameter which is preferably slightly larger than the bore I llb of the body Illa whereby its periphery 4| will engage and seal with the wall of the bore Illb when the disc is in a horizontal or normal or undistorted position, as shown in Figure 5. The inherent elasticity or resiliency of the valve element or disc 40 will tend to maintain the disc in its normal, undistorted position with its peripheraledge engaging and sealing with the wall of the bore Illb. l The valve element or disc 40 is mounted by means of a screw 42on the central collar 43 of a spider member .44. Thespider includesan J annular ring 45 :which islconnectedithrough radial legs 45a with the central collar and the spaces between the legs 45a form flow passages 46. The spider member 44 is suspended by a plurality of arms 41 from a supporting ring 48 which is threaded into the upper portion of the bore [b and the spaces between the supporting arms 41 provide side passages or flow areas 49. It is noted that the valve support could be constructed of a collar having a closed bottom and depending from the supporting ring 48, with the side passage 49 being formed in the wall of said collar and the bottom passages 46 formed in the closed bottom of said collar.

When the valve element or disc 40 is in its normal, undistorted position (Figure with its peripheral edge 4| in sealing engagement with the wall of the bore b and said disc overlying the passages 46, a flow in either direction through the bore of the body Ilia is prevented. Whenever the pressure acting below the valve element or disc exceeds the pressure acting against the upper surfacesof said disc the marginal edge portion of the disc 40 is distorted upwardly to the position shown in Figure 6 with the point of fulcrum being at the edge of the ring 45 of the spider member. This upward distortion or flexing of the valve element or disc 40 will permit a flow of fluid upwardly through the body Illa around the distorted valve disc and through the side flow passages 49 between the supporting arms 41. Therefore, during lowering of the well pipe A, the kinetic pressure which is developed beneath the valve element or disc will distort or flex said disc upwardly (Figure 6) whereby fluid from the well bore may enter the well pipe. Whenever the hydrostatic head pressure of the admitted fluid plus the inherent resiliency of the disc tending to return said disc to its normal position equals the pressure acting beneath the valve element or disc, said valve element is returned to its initial normal position as shown in Figure 5, in which position said valve closes flow through the side passages 49 as well as through the bottom passages 46.

The operation of the valve element or disc 40 during the filling of the well pipe is the same as has been described with respect to the flexible or distortable valve sleeve 26 of the first form. That is, as the pipe is lowered and the kinetic pressure beneath the valve element 40 is increased, the outer marginal portion of the valve element is distorted upwardly to permit a flow through the side passages 49 to admit fluid from the well bore into the well pipe. As soon as suflicient fluid has been admitted into the well pipe to attain a pressure which when added to the normal resiliency of the valve disc or element is equal to the pressure acting below the element, said element is returned to a normal sealing position to prevent further flow through the passages 49. It will be evident that the periodic operation of the valve disc to admit fluid into the well pipe will be continued throughout the lowering operation and until the pipe is landed in its final position. During the lowering movement the check valve 3la will provide a protection against possible blowout in the event the well bore pressures become excessive.

When it is desired to perform a cementing operation following the final landing of the pipe it is only necessary to pump the cement downwardly through the well pipe and the pressure of the pumped cement will act against the exposed upper surface of the valve element or disc 40; This surface is that portion of the valve element or disc which is exposed not only through the side passages 49 but also through the bottom passages 46 and thus the valve disc will be distorted in a downward direction from the fulcrum point at the peripheral edge of the central c01- lar 43 and mounting screw 42. Therefore, upon a distortion of the valve disc or element in a downward direction both the side passages 49 and the bottom passages 46 are opened whereby an increased volume may pass the valve disc, whereby an ample volume of cement may be pumped downwardly through the body. The cement will of course pass downwardly through the tubular body Illa and through the opening 30a past the check valve 31a and will finally discharge through the openings 14a into the well bore. It is therefore apparent that the valve disc or element 40 will function not only to control filling of the well pipe but will also function as a cementing valve for the subsequent cementing operation.

It is pointed out that one of the features of the form shown in Figures 5 to 8 is the arrangement whereby only a certain portion of the valve element or disc 40 is distorted upwardly so that only the side passages 49 are opened during the filling of the well pipe, when only a lesser flow area is required. At this time the valve element fully overlies the bottom passages 46 and the admission of fluid from the well bore into the pipe is only through the side passages 49. However, when cementing is to be carried out and. a greater area passage is desirable the valve element has a greater portion thereof distorted or flexed downwardly to open both the side and bottom passages to provide this increased flow area.

In both forms of the invention a flexible valve element which is capable of being distorted and which is operated by the differential in pressure thereacross is employed. By actuating the valve element by means of the differential in pressures in the well bore and in the well pipe, completely automatic operation is had.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and suboombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A fill-up valve device for a well pipe adapted to be lowered within a well bore having fluid therein including, a tubular body adapted to be connected in the lower portion of the well pipe and having a fluid opening therein whereby fluid from the well bore may enter the body and flow into the well pipe, a valve seat in said body,

and a cementing valve within the body which is normally closed by seating on said valve seat and is adapted to be unseated to allow a cementing operation to be carried on through the pipe, saidvalve having an axial flow passage therethrough, a tubular flow stem connected with saidcementing valve and having an open lower end com-t essa- 140 municating'with said axial flow passage and the lower p'ortion of the interior of the body, whereby pressurefluid from the well boreflowing .into' the body through the fluid opening may "enter the stem; saidstem havinga closed'upperend and having radial ports in its wall which establish communication between theiinterior of the flow stem, and-the well pipeso thatfluid fromthe'well bore may flow into the well pipe through the tubular stem and ports, and a flexible valve member mounted on the exterior of the stem and actuated by the differential in pressures within the stem and within the well pipe for controlling flow through said ports.

2. A fill-up valve device for a well pipe adapted to be lowered within a well bore having fluid therein including, a tubular body adapted to be connected in the lower portion of the well pipe and having a fluid opening therein whereby fluid from the well bore may enter the .body and flow into the well pipe, a valve seat in said body, and a cementing valve within the body which is normally closed by seating on said valve seat and is adapted to be unseated to allow a cementing operation to be carried on through the pipe, said valve having an axial flow passage therethrough, a tubular flow stem connected with said cementing valve and having an open lower end communicating with said axial flow passage and the lower portion of the interior of the body, whereby pressure fluid from the well'bore flowing into the body through the fluid opening may enter the stem, said stem having a closed upper end and having radial ports in its wall which establish communication between the interior of the flow stem and the well pipe so that fluid from the well bore may flow into the well pipe through the tubular stem and ports, and a valve sleeve constructed of distortable material surrounding the stem and having its lower end anchored to said and having openings in its lower end establishing communication between the well bore and the lower portion of the body, a valve seat in the body, an upwardly closing cementing valve within the body'above the openings and adapted to close by seating on said valve seat, a stem on the upper portion of the cementing valve, said valve and stem having a passage which extends from the lower end of the valve to a point terminating short of the upper end of the stem, and said stem having a radial port extending through the wall from said passage into the area above thecementing valve, whereby communication between the well bore and the interior of the well pipe may be established through the passage and port, and a flexible valve element actuated by the diflerential in pressures within the well bore and within the well pipe for controllin flow through the port.

4. A fill-up valve device for a well pipe which is adapted to 'be lowered within a well bore having fluid therein, a tubular body adapted to be connected in the lower portion of the Well pipe and having openings in its lower end establishing communication between the well bore and the lower portion of the body, a valve seat in the body, an upwardly closing cementing valve within the body above the openingsandadapted to close'by seating on' said'valve seat, a stem on'the upper portion of'the' cementing valve, said valve and stem having a passage which extends from the lower end'of the valve to apoint terminating short of the upper .end of the stem,, and said stem having a radial port extending through its wall from said passage into the area above the cementing valve, whereby communication between the well bore and the interior of the well pipe may be established through the passage and port, and a tubular sleeve valve of distortable material surrounding the exterior of the stem and having its lower end anchored thereto, with its upper portion unattached and overlying the port, whereby the upper portion of said sleeve valve may be distorted radially outwardly to open said port.

5. A valve device for a well pipe which is lowered within a well bore having fluid therein including, a tubular body adapted to be connected in the lower portion of the well pipe, said body having an opening establishing communication between the interior of the body and the well pipe thereabove, a valve seat in said body, an upwardly closing valve member coacting with the opening for controlling flow therethrough by seating on said valve seat, a valve element associated with said valve member and including a flexible part which functions to open flow through the opening when the valve member is seated on said valve seat, said flexible part closing flow through said opening when in a normal undistorted position and allowing flow through said opening when flexed from its normal position.

6. A valve device for a well pipe which is low ered within a well bore having fluid therein including, a tubular body adapted to be connected in the lower portion of the well pipe, said body having an opening establishing communication between the interior of the body and the well pipe thereabove, a valve seat in said body, an upwardly closing valve member coacting with the opening for controlling flow therethrough, said valve member having a flow passage therethrough and a flexible valve element associated with said valve member to open and close flow through said flow passage, said valve element closing said passage when in a normal undistorted position to prevent downward fluid flow and opening said passage when flexed from its normal position to permit upward fluid flow.

7. A valve device for a well pipe which is lowered within a well bore having fluid therein including, a tubular body adapted to be connected in the lower portion of the well pipe, said body having an opening establishing communication between the interior of the body and the well pipe thereabove, a valve seat in said body, an upwardly closing valve member coacting with the opening for controlling flow therethrough by seating on said valve seat to close flow through said opening, said valve member having a flow passage therethrough, and a flexible valve element associated with said valve member to open and close flow through said flow passage, said valve element closing said passage when in a normal undistorted position to prevent downward fluid flow and opening said passage when flexed from its normal position to permit upward fluid flow, said valve element having one side exposed to the pressure of the fluid in the well bore exteriorly of the well pipe and having its opposite side exposed to the pressure of the fluid within the bore of said pipe.

8. A valve device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the flexible valve element is a tubular sleeve element anchored at its lower end to said valve member and having its upper portion overlying the communication-establishing opening.

Number 12 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Glass Apr. '7, 1931 Tilbury Feb. 28, 1933 Corbett July 23, 1935 Swart Feb. 27, 1940 Baker Mar. 10, 1942 Parkin June 8, 1943 

